By our reporter 17.9.2026
Commercial vehicle operators in Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State have been directed to wear clothing bearing the signs of the All-Progressives Congress.
The order was given by the Esan West Local Government chairman Blessing Albert Ebhodaghe. He was seen in video online dishing out the directives to drivers operating from motor parks in the area, according to him it was his efforts to boost governor Monday Okpebholo’s drive to deliver 2.5 million votes for the re-election of President Bola Tinubu.
“The Governor of Edo State, he promised the President Bola Tinubu 2.5 million in the 2027 general election that the whole world is going to see,” Ebhodaghe said in the video.
“By the grace of God, we are totally behind him. We are going to deliver him, come 2027.”
He said drivers not wearing the colors of the APC would not be allowed into the parks
“I wrote on no account to not see any driver put on his cap or any material that does not belong to the party,” he said.
“Any park I see anybody putting on another cap… there will be no friend to this vehicle.”
However, a civil right group MonITNG, argued that the directive is capable of causing public disorder.
“If the report is accurate, it raises serious questions about the use of public spaces for political purposes,” MonITNG said in a statement posted on X.
“This is deeply concerning and deserves immediate clarification from both the council chairman and Governor Monday Okpebholo.
“A motor park is a place where citizens earn their livelihoods; it is not a political party office. Drivers should not be compelled to display political allegiance as a condition for accessing a public facility or carrying out their legitimate businesses.
“The people of Esan West deserve accountable leadership, respect for their rights and government that earns political support through performance not pressure.”
The controversy comes shortly after Okpebholo inaugurated the newly elected chairmen and vice chairmen of Edo’s 18 local government areas on September 4.
At the ceremony, the governor urged the council bosses to strengthen political structures at the grassroots and mobilise support for Tinubu and his Renewed Hope Agenda. He also charged them to work towards the state’s collective target of 2.5 million votes for the President in 2027.
